Torrance home becomes central to Correspondents’ Dinner shooting investigation

A Torrance neighborhood was the center of an investigation overnight as law enforcement officials searched through a home that’s believed to be the residence of a man accused of shooting near the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C. 

Secret service agents and the Federal Bureau of Investigation canvassed a home in the South Bay to secure evidence in the case against 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen. The man allegedly exchanged gunfire with law enforcement on Saturday after he rushed a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, prompting President Donald Trump and other top officials to evacuate.

Video captured out of Torrance showed a neighborhood blocked off as investigators thoroughly searched the inside of Allen’s home and cars parked on the driveway. Federal and local agencies worked through the night at the property, leaving it sometime around 7 a.m. on Sunday.

Max Harris, who said he was tutored by Allen, said he was stunned to learn of his arrest.

“I mean, my friend called me and said, ‘Check the news. The C2 guy just tried to, whatever he tried to do,’” Harris said. “And it’s like, it was unbelievable to me. I never would have expected that in my life.”

He added that it didn’t seem as if there were any red flags concerning Allen.

“I mean, he seemed like a friendly enough guy,” Harris said. “I mean, he was just kind of a normal guy, you know what I mean? Just an average person, you wouldn’t expect anything of him.”

Telemundo 52 Anchor Dunia Elvir recounts the chaos that unfolded after a gunman was tackled at a security checkpoint at the White House Correspondents’ Association. This video was broadcast on Today in LA on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

Erik Orre, who lives in the community, said he was shocked at the investigation in his usually quiet neighborhood.

“Once again, it’s allegations, so we don’t know the true story, but it seems pretty horrendous so far,” he said.

Allen was previously an intern at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge in 2014, the agency confirmed to NBC Los Angeles. In a statement, NASA JPL condemned the actions that occurred on Saturday.

“NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory unequivocally denounces violence and extends our condolences and support to all those impacted by this incident,” the statement read. “We can confirm that the suspect interned at JPL for approximately three months in 2014.”

Allen, who is believed to have acted alone, was a guest at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the gala was being held. He was tackled to the ground and apprehended after exchanging gunfire with law enforcement, injuring a Secret Service agent. Although Allen was not shot, he was taken to a nearby hospital.

The man was armed with a Maverick 12-gauge shotgun and an Armscor Precision .38 semi-automatic pistol, both of which were purchased legally, a senior law enforcement official and law enforcement documents said, according to NBC News.

A note allegedly written by the suspect gave insight into a possible motive on Saturday’s attack. A senior administration official provided a transcript of some of Allen’s writings to NBC News. In it, he expressed “rage” at the Trump administration’s leadership, criticized the president and wrote that administration officials were his targets.

Allen is facing charges that include using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous or deadly weapon. He is expected to be in court on Monday.